The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-12-01

says it is unnecessary to press upon th'
General Assembly the Importance o
giving all possible aid and encourage
ment to their work. 1t is noted that th'
Legislature must decide which institution
or institutions shall receive the benefits
of the appropriation made by Congress
under the Hatch bill, and it is suggested
that the assignment of portion of the
appropriation to agricultural experiments
would greatly extend the operations O.
the stations, and enable third sation tt
be established in the centre of the State
There are now one thousand convictt
on the rolls of the State Penitentiary
nine hundred and twenty-six Of whom
are colored persons. The crops cultiva'
ted by the convicts we're partly destroyed
by freshets and caterpillars. Estimating
solely upon the operations of the year
the prison has been more than self-sus
tanning. An appropriation of 100000
is asked for, with the proviso that all
| moneys collected by the board shall be
turned over. to the State. 1t is recon-
mended that tract of land be purchased
sufficiently large ior the employment Of
the convicts in agricultural labor, after
the expiration of the present leases and
contracts. All convicts who cannot be
hired to contractors, or employed else.
where pro6tably, can be made to work
on this farr. The establishment of a
reformatory institution for youthful
criminals is strenuously advised. The
reasons given for it are unanswerable.
The Governor describes the present
condition of the Columbia Canal, upon
which, up to October 81, 1886, sl3O,705
had been expended. The estimated cost
of completing it issl69,626. The simple
| question is, whether what has been spent
shall be thrown away by the abandon.
ment of the work. The completion of
| the canal, also, besides proving largely
profitable in itself, can be the means of
re-establishing water communication be-
tween upper and lower South Carolina.
The Governor, therefore, recommends
that the State undertake the early COM
pletion of the canal, or else transfer it,
with all its rights and obligations, to
corporations or individuals who can
ensure its speedy completion.
The Lunatic Asylum has now 649
patients, of whom 500 are whites. Ad-
ditional accommodation for colored
patients is required. There has been a
slight reduction in the cost of maintain.
ing the patients.
The Governor recommends certain
changes in the law establishing the Rail-
road Commission, and deems it advisable
to enlarge the powers of that body, so as
to enable it to require railroads within the
State "to regulate their rates of freight
traffic within the State, 80 that the public
shall derive the greatest benefit possible,
consistent with the interests of the rail-
road corporations. Most of the rail-
roads are in the hands of persons who
have no interest in our internal improve
.ments save as means of obtaining
revenue, and there is, therefore, a
tendency, the Governor says, to keep
local rates to disproportionate to the
prorate received by railroads within the
State on long hauls. The only mode of
stopping this "sapping of what may be
termed the life blood of our prosperity
would seem to be togive more power to
the railroad commission to regulate the
traffic."
The Governor describes the action
taken to allay the excitement caused by
the formation of secret labor societies in
upper South Carolina, and says that the
mastering into service of militia compa-
MES in the disturbed district instantly
suppressed the dissatisfaction which ex-
listed, and allayed the anxiety felt by
many good and substantial people. The
Governor says that the State should take
great pride in the State Volunteer
Troops, who so unsel6shly give their
time and labor to enable them to reach
that state of efficiency which will ensure
to society the preservation of good order
and the maintenance of pure govern.
ment.
The Governor earnestly recommends
to the generous consideration of the Leg
islature the propositi' to afford all pos
sible relief to the disabled and poor
among the surviving Confederate soldiers,
and recommends the Legislature to con-
slider carefully to what extent the re-
sources Of the State will justify so just
and humane provision.
As regards the State House, the Cover
nor shows the Importance of continuing
the work, and praises warmly what has
already been done. The improvements
still necessary are clearly described, the
total additional cost being 100000.
The Governor recommends that the
law be amended so that trial justices
shall hold Office for two years from the
date of their appointment, unless sooner
removed; or else, that they be appointed
as treasurers and auditors are. 1t is also
recommended that the Law be amended
SO as to give the trial justices jurisdic'
ton in the cases of petty larceny, and
other minor offences.
The Governor gives careful summary
of the proceedings in the case of f. A
Blackwood, a citizen Of South Carolina
who was kidnapped in this State and
taken in irons to Augusta. The CORES
pondence with Governor G'rdon on this
subject is given. The Governor speaks
highly of the action of the Attorney